Udupi: Udupi Town police have arrested two alleged members of the ‘Bedia Gang’ from Uttar Pradesh in connection with an inter-state house burglary reported at Ambalpady and recovered property worth approximately Rs 4.50 lakh.

The arrests were made during an investigation into the burglary reported by 70-year-old A S Ramamurthy, a resident of Ambalpady. The case was registered after he found his house near Sahara Apartments on Kunjugudde Road burgled earlier in July.

House burgled while owner was away

According to the complaint, Ramamurthy locked his house at around 1.30 pm on July 1 and left for Mangaluru to stay at his daughter’s residence.

When he returned at around 10.30 am on July 9, he found that the front door of the house had been broken open.

After entering the house, he noticed that clothes had been pulled out and items had been disturbed. He later found that Rs 6 lakh in cash kept inside a bag was missing.

Three watches belonging to his son, collectively valued at around Rs 10,000, were also reported stolen.

Based on the complaint, Udupi Town police registered a case and launched an investigation into the burglary.

First accused arrested near Indrali

Acting on credible information, the investigation team arrested the first accused, Mohammed Zafar, 22, son of Taufiq and a resident of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh, near Indrali Railway Station in Udupi on September 2.

During interrogation, Zafar allegedly told police that he and his associate Kadir had broken open the lock of the Ambalpady house and stolen Rs 6 lakh in cash and three watches.

Police said Zafar allegedly disclosed that the stolen cash was divided equally between the two accused.

Police recovered Rs 1.50 lakh in cash and a mobile phone valued at approximately Rs 8,000 from Zafar.

After obtaining police custody, the investigation team travelled to Uttar Pradesh as part of the probe and recovered an additional Rs 1.06 lakh in cash, police said.

Second accused arrested in Moodbidri

Continuing the investigation, police arrested the second accused, Kadir, 32, a resident of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh, at Moodbidri on September 25.

Police said they recovered Rs 1.65 lakh in cash, two silver coins valued at around Rs 6,000 and five watches of different brands valued at approximately Rs 15,000 from him.

Two screwdrivers, allegedly used in the offence and valued at around Rs 300, and a brown-coloured bag valued at approximately Rs 200 were also recovered.

According to police, property worth approximately Rs 4.50 lakh has been recovered so far in connection with the case.

Police link accused to Bedia gang

According to Udupi police, the two accused are members of the ‘Bedia Gang’ and are originally from the Baniyather–Chandausi–Akrauli area of Uttar Pradesh.

Police said Mohammed Zafar has a house burglary case registered against him at Nainital police station in Uttarakhand.

Kadir allegedly has several criminal cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, cases against him at Baniyather police station include one case under the Arms Act and two house burglary cases. At Civil Lines police station in Moradabad, he allegedly faces another illegal arms case and two house burglary cases.

Police said Kadir is involved in a total of six cases.

The investigation into the Ambalpady burglary is continuing, with police examining the movements of the accused and the possibility of their involvement in other similar offences.

Investigation team

The operation was carried out under the direction of Udupi district Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, IPS, with guidance from Additional SP Sudhakar Naik and Udupi Sub-Division DySP Belliyappa.

The investigation was led by Udupi Town Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad.

PSI Ratnakar K, ASIs Harish and Prasanna C, and police personnel Jeevan Kumar, Anand Ganiga, Anand, Obalesh and Anandayya assisted in the investigation and arrests.

Personnel from Manipal police, including Mallaiah Hiremath, along with other Udupi Town police staff, also assisted the team.

The police have recovered a substantial portion of the property linked to the burglary and are continuing their investigation into the accused and their alleged activities.